Hi MArk:
Just me opinion, some do use MachIV, but Ive found experiences seem to vary widely. IT really isnt ready for prime time by my estimation. The Next version will be, but it will take up to 3 months to complete to full status..
I recommend, if your ina hurry, that you use a breakout baord and printer port to do the control, its very easy to switch such a system to G100 when its ready for it. As long as you have the appropriate drivers, it wont matter if you use printer port or G100 for now, the port will simply be slower. All your other specs look good, I dont htink you shoudl hit any major snags..
Thanks,
Art
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----- Original Message -----
From: "Mark Vaughan" <mark@...>
To: <mach1mach2cnc@...>
Sent: Thursday, March 28, 2002 9:19 AM
Subject: [mach1mach2cnc] Proposed New Mach 3 + Grex installation
Hi Guys I'm a newbie to the group, and Mach 3.
I have recently purchased an AVON 2200 CNC vertical mill with faulty Anilam
Crusader M series controller. Have fixed much of it, but it's not reliable.
This has massive 120V SEM 2000RPM, 15A servos on all 3 axis with 200 thou
pitch ball screws, and 254 pulse encoders.
I am looking to upgrade it to Mach 3, and then Mach 4, and use a GRex G100
controller, but it would appear I have landed in the middle of a development
phase.
It is important I can get something up and running as a basic 3 Axis CNC
mill (at least as good as a parallel port version) in a couple of weeks. Hi
speed is not presently important.
Looking at Arts video's it would look as though I can connect a GRex G100 as
a basic interface controller and it will work satisfactorily, without all
the fancy capabilities of the GRex, Am I right in this assumption?
If not then perhaps I need to pick up a isolated serial port breakout box to
get things going and run that in tandem with the GRex until it is fully
working.
Since my motors are 120V, 15A, the Gecko servo controllers only run to 80V
so I will be looking to use either Rutex, or Teknix servo controllers, I
assume there is no preference between either of these, and no problems to
interface to the GRex Rutex are similar price, and capable of a lot more
current and I would therefore assume a little more bullet proof.
My present DC supply is 150V, which gives out about 120V to the servo's, but
no problem to adjust this since I have a big multi tapped three phase
transformer.
I should also say, I have no 3 phase supply at my shop, this is being
generated from a 7.5HP TECO inverter / VFD and I may need to sine filter it,
but have not at present. Motor runs fine, three phase transformer wines a
little.
For encoders I am looking at 2000 pulse differential A+, A-, B+, B-, and
N+, N-, this appears to be a common pulse count and should give pretty good
resolution.
When it all starts to work, I will be adding forth axis to the knee.
I have to go away on business later this week for a few days, so I would
like to get parts ordered before I go, and start when I get back.
Can you please throw me your opinion guys both good and bad.
Thanks Mark
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